Discussions centered on "inclusive global growth," following a rare agreement the previous day calling for calm in the Middle East.

Modi emphasized the bloc's collective weight, describing BRICS as representing "50 percent of the world's population, 40 percent of global GDP and more than 25 percent of global trade." He told leaders that "the power of BRICS lies in our diversity and cooperation," adding that members "may be rooted in different realities, but together we rise through cooperation and blossom for humanity." The group, founded in 2009 as a forum for major emerging economies, seeks greater influence in Western-dominated institutions and aims to address conflict, trade turbulence, and energy security. The summit's first day was dominated by the Middle East conflict. Despite foreign ministers failing to agree on a joint statement in May—with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE divided over the war that began with US-Israeli strikes on February 28—leaders, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, issued a statement after intense diplomatic efforts by India. It expressed "deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions" and called for "maximum restraint." Modi balances ties with both Iran and US-ally Israel while navigating the resulting energy crisis partly through Russian imports. Xi's attendance marked his first visit to neighboring India since 2019 and the most significant step yet in a cautious thaw between the nuclear-armed rivals, six years after a deadly border clash. Xi said the two countries are "fully capable of complementing each other's strengths... and advancing together." India's foreign ministry stated both leaders committed to a "fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question." However, the territorial dispute remains unresolved, with heavy military deployments along the roughly 3,500-kilometer border, and deep mistrust persists amid a widening trade deficit and strategic rivalry. Xi's visit also drew protests from dozens of Tibetan exiles in New Delhi. (Bssnews)